BLM issues Right of Way grant for Fiber Optic Cable Project

The Bureau of Land Management, Mount Lewis Field Office has issued a Right of Way grant for the proposed Barrick Cortez Inc. Fiber Optic Cable Project, located adjacent to the JD Ranch Road approximately 34 miles south of Beowawe, in Eureka County, Nevada. The Project was analyzed in an Environmental Assessment (EA) dated June 2015.

Barrick Cortez Inc. submitted a Plan of Development to construct a 21.8-mile-long fiber optic cable between the southeastern boundary of BCI’s Cortez Gold Mine Operations Area and BCI’s Lodge at Pine Valley. The cable and approximately 19 vaults (for cable installation/access) would be installed parallel to and within the existing disturbance areas associated with county roads (County Road 222 and JD Ranch Road). The proposed ROW would be located on BLM administered lands. The fiber optic cable would be in use for the duration of operations at the CGM Operations Area (approximately 5 years).

The EA, Decision Letter, and FONSI are available on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ePlanning webpage at: http://1.usa.gov/1BpkmsB and a hardcopy of these documents are available for review at the Battle Mountain District Office at 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV during regular business hours 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, except federal holidays (Please note: the electronic version of the EA is a large .pdf and may take a few minutes to load).

If you have any questions or require clarification on this EA, please call Chris Worthington, Planning and Environmental Coordinator at (775) 635-4144.